The Kangaroo Court (Luke 22:54-71)

The Upside-Down Kingdom

When we return to the opening chapters of Luke, we’re reminded that Christ’s coming wasn’t just a gentle story, but it was a world turned upside down. He comes to a world infected by sin and a world that is cursed. The world will not self-heal. He came to lift up the humble and bring down the proud, to establish not another earthly power struggle but a kingdom of shalom that is a kingdom of true peace. This peace isn’t mere tolerance; it’s the deep rest and joy of knowing and enjoying God. It is the peace where we can enjoy the goodness of our God with sin removed. Every kingdom of man tries to force peace by control or fear, but Christ brings peace by redeeming and removing sin. His rule doesn’t crush; it restores. His victory doesn’t humiliate; it heals.

When the Light Reveals the Distance

Peter’s story shows us how easy it is to follow Christ “from a distance.” The same man who once swore he would die for Jesus now keeps space between himself and the Savior. Around the fire that night, Peter’s face was lit by its glow, but he was not really in the light. Three times he was asked if he knew Jesus, and three times he said no. He had chances to repent, but he continued to deny. Then, on the last denial, he heard the rooster crow and then made eye contact with our Lord. Christ has shown that he is a prophet. He has shown that we are weak in the flesh. And Peter wept bitterly, realizing that the Savior he had denied. Peter’s bravado and confidence will not save him. Only Christ laying down his life could save sinners and empower sinners to live for our redeemer.

The Silent Strength of the Savior

While Peter wept, Christ was struck, mocked, and blindfolded. The soldiers demanded, “Prophesy! Tell us who hit you!” The tragedy is that they fail to realize the irony that Christ had already prophesied Peter’s denial moments before. They wanted a prophet to perform on demand, but they didn’t understand that a true prophet speaks when the word of the Lord comes, not when men command it. The One they beat could have summoned an army of angels, but instead, He remained silent. The silence of Christ that night was not weakness, but it was power restrained. In choosing the cross, He chose the only path that could bring sinners home and make peace real. He will submit to His father’s will.

The King Who Will Not Play Our Games

When the religious leaders questioned Jesus, demanding, “Are you the Christ?” He didn’t argue or plead. He knew their hearts were closed. Instead, He spoke of the Son of Man who would sit at the right hand of God—a quiet claim of divinity, kingship, and victory. They could not see that the bruised and bloodied man before them was the Warrior-King of Psalm 110 and the eternal Son of Man from Daniel 7. They mocked Him as powerless, but He was already winning the greatest battle of all: defeating sin, enduring wrath, and securing a kingdom that will never end. His restraint was His triumph, His humility His glory.